Hachikosela Muchimba, a former letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and resident of the District of Columbia, was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison after being convicted for his role in a mail theft and bank fraud scheme that resulted in losses of $1.6 million. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the sentencing.
A federal jury found Muchimba guilty on March 14, 2025, of several charges including conspiracy to commit theft of mail and bank fraud; theft of mail; bank fraud; engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity; and unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization.
U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras also ordered Muchimba to pay $651,068.35 in restitution to victims and to forfeit $1,273,403.36 gained through illegal activity. In addition to his prison sentence, Muchimba was stripped of his U.S. citizenship and will be subject to deportation.
Muchimba, originally from the Republic of Zambia, became a naturalized American citizen on May 26, 2022. Authorities determined that he had lied on his citizenship application by claiming he had not committed any criminal acts while actively conducting mail theft and fraud between December 2020 and March 2023. As a result, the court revoked his citizenship.
Special Agent in Charge Kathleen Woodson of the U.S. Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General joined Pirro in announcing the sentencing.
According to court documents, Muchimba worked as a letter carrier based in Friendship Heights during the period when he stole U.S. Treasury checks and private party checks intended for postal customers along more than 30 different mail routes within the District. He deposited these checks into accounts under his control—sometimes while wearing his postal uniform—and was captured on bank surveillance cameras making deposits and withdrawals.
Investigators found that over $1.6 million in stolen Treasury checks were deposited into Muchimba’s accounts. The funds were used for personal expenses such as international travel, stays at luxury hotels, and spending $100,000 at gentlemen’s clubs.
Muchimba was arrested on September 20, 2023 at Dulles International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Zambia with $2,000 cash in his luggage.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: the U.S. Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General, Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S Attorneys John Borchert and Diane Lucas prosecuted the case within the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section.
